Animal category: Poultry

The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will not be supporting the proposed new European regulation on the protection of animals during transport. An MEP asks the European Commission on its intentions to relaunch this reform project, and on the possibility that the transport of meat transport could be encouraged as an alternative to live animal transport.

Scientific article suggesting that active walking in broiler chickens can be a reliable indicator of health and welfare. Its sustained and regular pattern of expression is detectable by automated systems.  This smart detection of active walking deficiencies can be carried out both on an individual chicken and on a group of chickens, even at high stocking densities.

Answer from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty to a question from a member of parliament on the conditions under which animals are killed in abattoirs, and the measures the government intends to take to ensure effective controls by veterinary services and compliance with current regulations. The presence of an animal welfare officer in each abattoir must also be confirmed.

Analysis of a survey on the occurrence of various animal welfare violations in German abattoirs. Offences reported and penalized mainly concerned the use of prohibited driving aids, lack of care, and improper restraint, stunning and bleeding. The authors suggest that official veterinarians should carry out closer monitoring of compliance with the legislation for these specific situations and that the training of abattoir staff should be improved.

MASA's response to a question from a French Member of Parliament about animal abuse at the Craon abattoir, despite the Ministry's creation of a national task force in 2021 to increase inspections under the French Abattoir Plan.

MASA's response to a question from a French Member of Parliament about the abuse suffered by animals in certain abattoirs in Mayenne, despite the creation by the Ministry in 2021 of a national inspection task force to increase monitoring as part of the French Abattoir Plan.

Scientific article demonstrating that classical music in broiler rearing can reduce the adverse effects of high density stocking on some parameters for stress, health and meat quality.

Scientific study summarizing available literature sources on alternatives to the current culling method for male chicks and the public's view of these approaches. In ovo sex determination appears to be the main potential alternative method to the culling of male chicks, and the one preferred by consumers, especially if carried out during the early days of incubation.

Answer to a question from a member of parliament asking the Ministry to enforce the ban on crushing male chicks, including regular checks in hatcheries, and to extend the regulations to female ducklings.

Answer to a question from a Member of the European Parliament on the Commission's planned strategy to support the development of mobile abattoirs.